Pianist Richard Clayderman has been encouraging Galapagos tortoises to mate by playing romantic ballads for them at their enclosure at London Zoo.

The musician played a set of seductive songs on a grand piano to Dirk - who is believed to be over 70-years-old - and his female companions Dolly, Priscilla and Polly, all 17, and 13-year-old Dolores.

He said: "Music is a powerful thing, and I would like to believe it has a positive effect on animals, as well as us. It certainly is an experience to play in such a well-known and romantic place as London Zoo."

How was it for you? It's not clear whether the music had the desired effect

Scientists have suggested that music can affect animal behaviour and some farmers have claimed classical tunes helped to increase the yield of milk and eggs from their livestock.

But it was not immediately clear whether the French star's sentimental music had had the desired effect on his audience.

Clayderman, who is staging a recording comeback after more than a decade, became a huge star in the 1970s thanks to his track Ballade Pour Adeline, which is one of the biggest-selling recordings of all time.